NationStates Jolt Archive

I will be registering to vote in about a month. I have been raised in a very conservative household, but don't consider myself a Republican. My mother loves Bush; I...well...let's not go there. However, I'm not one to really agree with the Democratic party either.

I've posed the possibility of registering as Independent, but does their vote really matter to the electoral college?

Another thing--I would like to hear pros and cons of every party available. I really want to see what all there is before I make my decision. I know it doesn't affect who I vote for, but I would like to stand firm in registration choice.

So, rant away, please.

I can only answer your questions after you answer one of mine. How intelligent are you?

Go Independent. You can't vote in the primaries, but you still get to vote for your congressmen, mayors, presidents, etc.

Being an Independent is one of the best choices out there because you feel no compulsion to vote with a party line at all.

Besides the fact that independent is a good choice, it's a little difficult to recommend a political party if I don't even know much about your politics (other than that you don't like Bush and don't tend to agree with Democrats either).

I can only answer your questions after you answer one of mine. How intelligent are you?

As far as school goes, I currently have a 3.8 in college.
I graduated at 16.

But otherwise, I'm pretty dang open minded. I consider that intelligent.

Besides the fact that independent is a good choice, it's a little difficult to recommend a political party if I don't even know much about your politics (other than that you don't like Bush and don't tend to agree with Democrats either).

I'm not necessarily looking for recommendations. Just viewpoints.

I will be registering to vote in about a month. I have been raised in a very conservative household, but don't consider myself a Republican. My mother loves Bush; I...well...let's not go there. However, I'm not one to really agree with the Democratic party either.

I've posed the possibility of registering as Independent, but does their vote really matter to the electoral college?

Another thing--I would like to hear pros and cons of every party available. I really want to see what all there is before I make my decision. I know it doesn't affect who I vote for, but I would like to stand firm in registration choice.

So, rant away, please.don't go by party, go by where the individual candidates stand on issues you think is important.

As far as school goes, I currently have a 3.8 in college.
I graduated at 16.

But otherwise, I'm pretty dang open minded. I consider that intelligent.
Very well then.

Register as a Democrat. Why? Simple. It’s their turn next and we need as many intelligent people as possible voting in their primaries.

wow you need to study up on how the government works in the US.

you dont need to register for any party. the only reason to do so is so that you can vote in the primaries. that way you have some small say in who one party runs in any particular race. (so if you register as a republican, you can vote on who you think should be the republican candidate for president in '08)
primaries are over so no need to decide NOW.

number of people registered in a party is irrelevant to the electoral college.

you should have some feeling about how you think the country is going, whether or not you support the status quo, what issues are most important to you. think about it and then vote for the candidate that best represents your views. do that for every race on the ballot (plus any referenda). its not hard. even an 18 year old newbie can do it.

wow you need to study up on how the government works in the US.

I admit I have been misguided in the past.

you should have some feeling about how you think the country is going, whether or not you support the status quo, what issues are most important to you. think about it and then vote for the candidate that best represents your views. do that for every race on the ballot (plus any referenda). its not hard. even an 18 year old newbie can do it.

I definitely have my own opinions on what I want the country to do... But they're right in between conservatism and liberalism.

I definitely have my own opinions on what I want the country to do... But they're right in between conservatism and liberalism.

most people are. we all have to make judgements based on the platform and personality of the candidates. set your priorities and try to make them realistic. for example if morality is extremely important to you, you are almost certainly shit out of luck. dont push national concerns onto state candidates (as junii mentioned in another thread, dont cast your vote for governor based on how the war in iraq is going) dont expect that your congressman can do great things for specific state issues.

and dont vote to please your mother. this is why we have a secret ballot.

Personally, I think I registered as nonpartisan...kind of eliminated the problem,lol

I will be registering to vote in about a month. I have been raised in a very conservative household, but don't consider myself a Republican. My mother loves Bush; I...well...let's not go there. However, I'm not one to really agree with the Democratic party either.

I've posed the possibility of registering as Independent, but does their vote really matter to the electoral college?

Another thing--I would like to hear pros and cons of every party available. I really want to see what all there is before I make my decision. I know it doesn't affect who I vote for, but I would like to stand firm in registration choice.

So, rant away, please.

Do you live in a closed or open state. That is, if you register Dem can you vote in a Republican primary? If you can, then it doesn't really matter.

If not:

Do Dems have a hope in hell of taking office in your district?

If not, I'd register as a Republican, so that you can try to bring more moderate Republicans into the general elections. If more Republicans had done the same leading up to 2000 I'd be a lot quieter on this board with so little to complain about with President John McCain, and Air America probably wouldn't exist (however much longer it's going to anyway).

I wouldn't register as independent. It's not like any districts still use block-party ballots. You can vote for whoever you want in any election. Try to find out what side you agree with more, learn what they stand for, and vote against your party when they stray.

Vote for whoever you think the best candidate is, party lines be damned.

Note:

In some states, registered independents can vote in BOTH Democrat AND Republican primaries. *nod*